K-DOCS

Synopsis

In frozen Hokkaido, HAS, a unique wheelchair basketball team, brings players with and without disabilities onto the same court. At its heart are two sisters: Mana (22), born with a severe disability, and Sana (27), the team captain. When Mana is selected for Japan’s U-25 developmental team, she begins embracing her condition as a source of possibility. Meanwhile, Sana, long living as a "shadow child" defined by caregiving, must finally confront a crucial question: who is she apart from her sister? Over one pivotal year, the boundary between caregiver and receiver dissolves, revealing a shared journey toward true independence.

Director's Statement

When I was 13, my older sister was injured and began using a wheelchair, making her support our family's center. As "the supportive younger brother," I used this role as an excuse to put my own life aside, leaving my feelings unspoken. In this film, while Mana finds new possibilities through wheelchair basketball, Sana struggles to confront her own life—reflecting my younger self. I want to shed light on siblings living in the shadows of caregiving. Through Sana, I hope to show that living one’s own life is just as important as supporting others.